Suggested Maintenance

[gautam]

I have a B6 S4 with roughly 130,000 miles on it and I wanted to get some opinions on any maintenance work I should perform. Here is what I have done so far (I bought the car at 101,000 miles):

1) New power steering pump and all pipes associated with the assembly
2) New A/C compressor and gas (full disclosure, I bought the car with a bad a/c pump and p/s pump and had to replace both to get her road worthy)
3) Regular oil changes every 3000-4000 miles (Mobil1 0W-40)
4) New brake discs and pads and new brake fluid
5) New coolant reservoir and fresh coolant (pentofrost red)
6) New radiator and condenser (had to be replaced due to minor front end accident in which the front grill punctured the radiator and condenser)
7) New transmission fluid
8) New head gaskets, valve cover gaskets and oil filter gasket due to leaking
9) New control arms (all 8 of them)
10) New air filter and mass airflow sensor
11) New engine mounts

I think that's about it but if I remember more, I'll add them on here.

So, my question is this, what other maintenance items (apart from a preemptive timing chain fix) would you recommend? I am saving up to buy new ignition coils and spark plugs right now, is there anything else I should get done when changing them out? My engine has the morning rattles but I cannot afford a timing chain fix and honestly I haven't had a problem yet, plus I let the car warm up properly before revving past 3000 rpm. I may need a new battery soon because since I live in Texas, the hot weather tends to kill car batteries a little faster.

Thanks!!

[jr1415us]

Fuel filter, cabin air filter, differential(s) oil.

[VinnysS4]

How are your swap bar end links? Does your intake flapper move with no problems?

[xhackerekx]

why u need head gasket ?

[pwest15]

I would suggest changing the valley pan gasket and doing the oil check valve service. ECS has a "kit" for this on their website but you can just take the part numbers and buy them cheaper elsewhere. Might save you a few bucks. Not too expensive of a service and it'll help your start up rattle. Highly recommend.

Where in TX are you? I'd be happy to come give advice or help you out with any of these services you're going to do

Sent from my potato

[gautam]

@jr1415us thanks! I'll keep the fuel filter in mind for next time I'm due for an oil change. Should be a relatively straight forward DIY job. I did change the cabin air filter, bought one from FCP Euro and swapped it a month ago, I'll look into changing the diff oil soon because I don't know when that was done last (if ever?).

@VinnysS4 sway bar ends look fine and I think I know what you're talking about when you say intake flapper. I took my car to Audi a few months back because I could hear a mild "whistling" sound from the front every time I'd go past 1/4 throttle and while I was under 2500-3000 rpm. It almost sounded like I had a small turbo in the engine haha, anyways Audi sad it was a bad flap in the intake manifold and recommended changing the intake manifold for a cool $1500, there's no way I can afford that right now. Did you have a similar issue? What fix did you do?

@xhackerekx I had to put in new head gaskets when I first bought the car, the previous owner wasn't very nice to it, had to spend a few $$ to get her back on the road (totally worth it!!)

@pwest15 thanks for the info, I am in Dallas! The maintenance you're suggesting may be a bit beyond my DIY abilities but I'll check with my shop to see if they can give me a good price. I know that if I am to change the valley pan gasket and do the oild check valve service then it may be a good idea to bolt on a new manifold too. I'm afraid to ask them what the labor will be on it though :o

[pwest15]

@jr1415us thanks! I'll keep the fuel filter in mind for next time I'm due for an oil change. Should be a relatively straight forward DIY job. I did change the cabin air filter, bought one from FCP Euro and swapped it a month ago, I'll look into changing the diff oil soon because I don't know when that was done last (if ever?).

@VinnysS4 sway bar ends look fine and I think I know what you're talking about when you say intake flapper. I took my car to Audi a few months back because I could hear a mild "whistling" sound from the front every time I'd go past 1/4 throttle and while I was under 2500-3000 rpm. It almost sounded like I had a small turbo in the engine haha, anyways Audi sad it was a bad flap in the intake manifold and recommended changing the intake manifold for a cool $1500, there's no way I can afford that right now. Did you have a similar issue? What fix did you do?

@xhackerekx I had to put in new head gaskets when I first bought the car, the previous owner wasn't very nice to it, had to spend a few $$ to get her back on the road (totally worth it!!)

@pwest15 thanks for the info, I am in Dallas! The maintenance you're suggesting may be a bit beyond my DIY abilities but I'll check with my shop to see if they can give me a good price. I know that if I am to change the valley pan gasket and do the oild check valve service then it may be a good idea to bolt on a new manifold too. I'm afraid to ask them what the labor will be on it though :o

There's a diy guide on here somewhere for the check valve diy. Its actually one of the easier DIYs to do imo. I'm always willing to go up there and help out if you decide a shop is too expensive. I'm not sure but I think Blair Automotive might be a good place to look at. They'll quote you the book rate on each job

The intake flapper fix is something you can actually do for free. Here's a link to help explain what you do. This is done on an A8 and I know there's an S4 specific thread Squiddy made but I can't seem to find it on my phone

http://forums.quattroworld.com/a8/msgs/44689.phtml

I should mention that most only perform this when they hear a "rattling" or "knocking" sound coming from the intake. A way to check if you have it is to listen to your car idle with the hood up, then depress the black plastic rod a bit to see if the noise goes away. If it changes the noise, then it's viable to do the flapper fix. Otherwise, not really something to worry about imo

Sent from my potato

[gautam]

There's a diy guide on here somewhere for the check valve diy. Its actually one of the easier DIYs to do imo. I'm always willing to go up there and help out if you decide a shop is too expensive. I'm not sure but I think Blair Automotive might be a good place to look at. They'll quote you the book rate on each job

The intake flapper fix is something you can actually do for free. Here's a link to help explain what you do. This is done on an A8 and I know there's an S4 specific thread Squiddy made but I can't seem to find it on my phone

http://forums.quattroworld.com/a8/msgs/44689.phtml

I should mention that most only perform this when they hear a "rattling" or "knocking" sound coming from the intake. A way to check if you have it is to listen to your car idle with the hood up, then depress the black plastic rod a bit to see if the noise goes away. If it changes the noise, then it's viable to do the flapper fix. Otherwise, not really something to worry about imo

Sent from my potato

Thanks for the info man I'll look into this in the next week or so. You're talking about Blair Automotive in Frisco right? If the intake flapper fix is free I'll aim to get it done in the next few weeks, I'll post a link if I find the one from Squiddy you're talking about. I'll hit you up with a private message soon about the valley pan gasket and oil check valve service.

[gautam]

In case anyone else wants to do this fix:

(Unstick the Intake Manifold Flap)

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...?highlight=diy

[VinnysS4]

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...pan+gasket+diy
All you need to do is remove the intake manifold and remove the valley pan. Change check valves and the valley pan gasket. Then separate the intake manifold into 2 and just completely disassemble it. Clean everything really good. Apply lubrication to the moving parts and re assemble. You'll need new intake gaskets and some black rtv for the upper intake , but definitely a doable diy for someone who doesn't wrench as much. And this will kill 2 birds with one stone... check valves, valley pan, oil filter to block seal and sticking intake flapper,.... or more than 2 lol. Good luck!

[Terry.Reese]

I would suggest changing the valley pan gasket and doing the oil check valve service. ECS has a "kit" for this on their website but you can just take the part numbers and buy them cheaper elsewhere. Might save you a few bucks. Not too expensive of a service and it'll help your start up rattle. Highly recommend.

Where in TX are you? I'd be happy to come give advice or help you out with any of these services you're going to do

Sent from my potato

I am installing intake spacers for mine shortly, this looks like something I may need to look into also. I have the rattle at times. so hopefully this will help alleviate that. Thanks for the tip!

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...pan+gasket+diy
All you need to do is remove the intake manifold and remove the valley pan. Change check valves and the valley pan gasket. Then separate the intake manifold into 2 and just completely disassemble it. Clean everything really good. Apply lubrication to the moving parts and re assemble. You'll need new intake gaskets and some black rtv for the upper intake , but definitely a doable diy for someone who doesn't wrench as much. And this will kill 2 birds with one stone... check valves, valley pan, oil filter to block seal and sticking intake flapper,.... or more than 2 lol. Good luck!

Vinny to the rescue again!

[VinnysS4]

Vinny to the rescue again!

lol thanks!